Can opener



oct. 29, 193s.`

F. H. scHwAR'rz y 2,019,099

CAN OPENER Filed Aug. 2, 1935 Q BY ATTORNE Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE l CAN OPENER l Francis H. Schwartz, Linden, N. J., assignor to Soss Manufacturing Company, Roselle, N. J.

Application August 2, 1935, Serial No. 34,308 12 Claims. (Cl. 164-119) of the can to cut and bend a portion thereof l inwardly into the can to form a relatively large discharge opening, and also a hook arranged at the inner end of the V-shaped cutter and projecting downwardly from the lower surface of the cutter 4and formed on the end portion of the handle member where it joins the cutter; a further objectbeing to provide a. tool of the class described, the cutter end portion of which is provided with a bead lfor reinforcing and strengthening the same, and which also operates to assist the inward turning and piercing of the cut out and bent portion of the container in the operation of forming the opening therein; and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in a device of the class and for the purpose speciiied, which is simple in construction, efcient in use and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the follow-4 ing specication, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through one end portion of a container indicating the method of using one of my improved devices in connection therewith.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the tool detached.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a blank from which the tool shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive is formed.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of tool; and,

Fig. 6 is a side edge view of the tool shown in Fig. 5. For the purpose of illustrating one use of my invention, I have indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawing part of a can or container I0, one end wall I I 'of which is attached to the side wall by a circumferential bead I2. In practice, I provide a tool which is designed to out and form a relatively large opening I3 in the end wall II so as to facilitate the discharge ci the contents o f the can or container whenever desired. In this connection, it will be understood that the can may be used as a container for various types of fluids or semi-uuid materials, such as beverages, lubriy eating oils and the like or may contain such food 5 products as peas, corn and the like which may be readily discharged through an opening 'if the kind illustrated.

In Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, I have shown one form of can opening device I4 which is fashioned from 10 a blank of the type indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawing. The blank consists of an elongated sheet of metal, one side wall I 6 of which is straight throughout the major portion of its length and the other side wan l1 of which is 15 curved. Both Walls at oneend portion of the blank have angularly extending parallel edges I8 and I9 which terminate in contracted edges IBa, I9a which, when the tool is completed, are ground to form cutting edges and a prong end 20 portion 20. The straight edge I9 of the blank where it joins the side walls I 1 is recessed as seen at 2| in such manner as to form a hook-shaped member 22, which member is adapted to engage the bead 12 of the can in the use of the tool, as 25 later described. The other end portion of the y blank is preferably rounded as seen at 23 and provided with an aperture 24 to facilitate hanging up the tool when not in use.

After fashioning a strip or sheet of metal in the 30 form of the blank shown in Fig. 4, the resulting blank is then folded or bent substantially on the dotted line 25 to oiset the tool head portion 26 with respect to the handle portion 21 in an out- Wardly and downwardly extending plane as well as transversely to the longitudinal plane of the handle member as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing. When so formed, the prong end 20 is arranged in longitudinal alinement with the handle portion 21 and with the D hook 22 at one end thereof, and the side edges I8 and I9 are substantially parallel to the wide sid edges of the handle member 21.

In the use of the tool, the same is placed in position upon the can or container in the man- 5 ner indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawing, and the handle member 21 is moved upwardly to force the prong end 20 downwardly through the top wall I I, rst operating to pierce said wall, and then to cut the V-shaped opening I3 therein 50 by the beveled cutter edges I8a, I9a, in which operation, the cut out portion IIa of the top wall II is folded into the can adjacent the inner surface of the side wall thereof in the manner indicated in full lines in Fig. 1 of the drawing. In 55 the above operation, the hook member 22 engaging the bead I2 acts as a fulcrum around which the-tool swings.

In Figs. and 6 of the drawing, I have shown a modified form of construction, wherein an elongated strip of metal is fashioned to form a long handle member 28 terminating at one end in a head 29 having side walls 30, 3i, and a prong end 32, it being understood at this time that both the prong end portion of the head 29 and that of the head 26 is curved outwardly and downwardly as clearlyseen in Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawing. The side walls of the handle portion 28are cut out and folded downwardly to form flanges 33 which terminate at their forward end portions in hook-shaped members 34 which are positioned at a point where the head 29 joins the handle member 28, and these hook-shaped portions are adapted to engage the bead I2 of the can. It is also preferred that the handle portion 2B and head 29 have a continuous bead 35 extending longitudinally thereof to reinforce and strengthen the tool, but this bead may be eliminated if the tool is hardened to give the desired strength and rigidity thereto.

Y Having fully described my invention, whatl I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A tool of the class described fashioned from an elongated sheet metal blank, one end of which is substantially V-shaped in form, one side of the blank adjacent the V-shaped end being fashioned to form a hook-shaped part extending into arecess portion of the blank, and said blank being folded along a diagonal line extending from said recess to the opposed side of the blank to arrange the V-shaped end portion of the blank in a plane transverse to the longitudinal plane oi' the remainder of the blank and with the side edges of said end portion projecting at opposite sides or the mank.

2. A tool of the -class described fashioned from an elongated sheet metal blank, one end'of which is substantially V-shaped in form, one side of the blank adjacent the V-shaped end being fashioned to form a hook-shaped part extending into a recess portion of the blank, said blank being folded along a diagonal line extending from said recess to the opposed side of the blank to arrange the V-shaped end portion of the blank in a plane transverse to the longitudinal plane of the remainder of the blank, and the pointed end of said V-shaped portion being arranged in alinement with the longitudinal plane of the blank when in its folded position.

3. A tool of the class described comprising an elongated strip of metal, one end portion of which is bent to form a head arranged angularly and transversely to the remainder or handle portion of said strip and' projecting at opposite sides thereof, said head terminating at its free end in a V-shaped tool, the free pointed end of which is curved downwardly, and said handle portion where it joins said head having a hook-shaped member.

4. A tool of the class described comprising a elongated strip oi metal, one end portion of which forms a handle member and the other end being fashioned to form a tool head consisting of a downwardly curved portion having beveled side edges contracting to form'a pointed free end for said head, said tool head being of greater trans, verse dimensions than the handle member where it joins said handle member, the Side edges of the head projecting at opposite sides of said handle member and the end portion of the handle member where it joins said tool head having a dowwardly extending hook-shaped part.

5. A tool of the class described comprising an 5 elongated strip of metal, one end portion of which forms a handle member and the other end being fashioned topform a tool .head consisting of a downwardly curved portion having beveled side edges contracting to form a pointed free end for l0 said head, said tool head being of greater transverse dimensions than the handle .member where it joins said handle member, the side edges of the head projecting at opposite sides of said handle member and the end portion of the handie member where it joins said tool head having a downwardly extending hook-shaped part, and said head having a reinforcing rib arranged longitudinally thereof.

6. A tool for forming discharge openings in,the

end walls of containers having beaded edges at the periphery of said end walls, said tool comprising an elongated handle portion, a tool head at one end of the handle portion, said tool head where it joins said handle portion being of greater transverse dimensions than the handle portion and projecting at opposite sides thereof, the side edges of the tool head being'contracted to form a pointed free end which is curved downwardly, the handle member where it joins said head having a hook-shaped part adapted to engage the beaded edge of the container and to form an axis in the swinging movement of the tool to force the pointedY end of the tool head downwardly through one end portion of the container.

7. A tool for forming discharge openings in the end walls of containers having beaded edges at the periphery of said end walls, said tool comprislng an elongated handle portion, a tool head at one end of the handle portion, said tool head 40 where it joins said handle portion being of greater transverse dimensions than the handle portion and projecting at opposite sides thereof, the side edges of the tool head being contracted to form s. pointed free end which is curved downwardly, the handle member where it joins said head having a hook-shaped part adapted to engage the beaded edge of the container and to form an axis in the swinging movement of the tool to force the pointed end of the tool head downwardly 56 through one end portion ofthe container, and the side contracted edges of said tool head being sharpened to form cutter edges.

8. A tool of the class described comprising an elongated strip of sheet metal, one end portion of which is oilset in the direction of one side edge of said strip, said oset end portion terminating in a tool head arranged transversely to the remainder of the strip and projecting at opposite sides thereof, the side edges of said head being 00 contracted to the free end thereof to form a pronged end, and the pronged end portion of said tool head being curved downwardly.

9. vA- tool of the class described comprising an elongated strip of sheet metal, one end portion of which is oilset in the direction of one side edge of said strip, said offset end portion terminating in a tool head arranged transversely to the remainder of the strip and projecting at opposite sides thereof, the side edges of said head being contracted to the free end thereof to form a pronged end, the pronged end portion of said tool head being curved downwardly, and the free end of said offset portion of the strip being provided adjacent the tool head with a hook-shaped ll member arranged in longitudinal alinement with said pronged tool end.

10. A tool of the class described comprising an elongated strip of sheet metal, one end portion of which is oiset in the direction of one side edge of said strip, said odset end portion terminating in a tool head arranged transversely to the remainder of the strip and projecting at opposite sides thereof, the side edges of said head being contracted to the free end thereof to form a pronged end, the pronged end portion of saidl tool head being curved downwardly, the free end oil said offset portion of the strip being provided adjacent the tool head with a hook-shaped member arranged in longitudinal alinement with said pronged tool end, and said head joining one side edge of the odset portion of said strip throughout the length' thereof.

11. A tool of the class described comprising an elongated strip of sheet metal, one end portion of which is offset in the direction of one side edge of said strip, said offset end portion terminating in a tool head arranged transversely to the remainder of the strip and projecting at opposite sides thereof, the side edges of said head being contracted to the free end thereof to form a pronged end, the

pronged end portion of said tool head being' curved downwardly,A the free end of said offset portion of the strip being provided adjacent the tool head with a hook-shaped member arranged in longitudinal alinement with said prongedtool end, said head joining one side edge of the offset portion of said strip throughout the length there- 5 of, and the side edges of said head inwardly of the contracted edges being straight and parallel.

12. A. tool of the class described comprising an elongated istrip of `sheet metal, one end portion of which is offset in the direction of one side edge of 10 said strip, said offset end portion terminating in a tool head arranged transversely to the remainder of the strip and projecting at opposite sides thereof, the side edges of said head being contracted to the free end thereof to form a lliA parallel, and the contracted side edges of Said 25 I head being beveled to form cutter edges.

` FRANCIS H. SCHWARTZ. 

